Actuating mechanism for ignition system and burner valve of a lighter

ABSTRACT

An arrangement of an actuating mechanism of a lighter is disclosed wherein a burner valve lifter is slidably supported for axial movement in guide means. This axial movement and thus the opening or the closing of the burner nozzle is controlled by a cam follower member formed in the actuating member.

United States Patent 91 Solzer I 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [54] ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR IGNITION SYSTEM AND BURNER VALVE OF A LIGHTER [75] Inventor: Willi Solzer, 627 Stierstadt, Germany [73] Assignee: Braun AG, Frankfurt am Main,

Germany [22] Filed: April 8, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 132,449

[52] US. Cl ..43l/l50, 431/344 [51] Int. Cl .;.....F23q 25/00 [58] Field of Search ...43l/344, 131, 150, 130; 222/3 IIII I III! I 11.75..--

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,328,980 7/1967 Reim ..'...431/131 x 3,484,825 12/1969 Hocq ..431/131 x Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney-Ernest F. Marmorek [57] ABSTRACT An arrangement of an actuating mechanism of a lighter is disclosed wherein a burner valve lifter is slidably supported for axial movement in guide means. This axial movement and thus the opening or the closing of the burner nozzle is controlled by a cam follower member formed in the actuating member.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 23 1975 SHEET 2 BF 2 ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR IGNITION SYSTEM AND BURNER VALVE OF A LIGHTER Reference to Related Patents:

Reference is made to US. Pat. Nos. 3,458,765, 3,610,793 and 3,612,736.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a mechanism for actuating the ignition system and burner or torch valve of a lighter.

More particularly, this invention relates to an arrangement of an actuating member of an ignition system and a burner or torch valve of a lighter of the type where the actuating member is disposed opposite to a valve arm which releases a valve spring.

In lighters, many actuator means have become known which, according to their design, enable a more or less easy actuation of the lighter. There is known, for example, a ball mechanism wherein a ball serves as a controlling element of the burner or torch valve. The ball is placed on the actuating member and, at the closing position of the actuating member, it directly bears upon the opening of the valve tube counter a valve spring which automatically opens the valve, and keeps in this way the valve body in its closed position.

This-known arrangement, however, has the disadvantage that the ball presses the combustion waste or the flint chippings into the nozzle of the burner and quickly causes failure of the latter. As a consequence, the valve becomes choked and operational uncertainty or a defective flame shape will result. Such a ball mechanism also necessitates, due to the indirect pressure against the ball, the provision of a considerable space for the actuating member.

In torch or burner valves which are opened by lifting the valve nozzle tube, it has been also known how to provide a valve lifting means in the form of a double arm lever acting upon the valve tube and the actuating member. The radially acting transverse forces occuring on the valve tube at the actuation of the valve lead to the throwing of the valve. In addition, fitting difficulties may occur, since in case of a too narrow allowance the valve tube may become jammed. This arrangement,

similarly, required a considerable space for the valve lifter in the lighter casing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an arrangement for the actuation of lighters, which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages and enables maximum utilization of space.

In accordance with this invention, the above objects are attained by' arranging a spring loaded valve lifter in parallel guiding means in which the lifter is slidably displaced by a cam follower engaging the actuating member. According to an advantageous development of this invention, the valve lifter is further provided with a ball shaped cam follower disposed between the actuating member and a guided sleeve of the valve lifter whereby the ball is supported for an axial displacement within the parallel guiding means.

The valve lifter is axially guided preferably by means of a sleeve and a stationary pin or the like. Another modification of this invention is that the valve lifter is to arrest the actuating member in its open position by means of a ball.

BRIEFDESCRIITION OF THE DRAWING The above and further characteristic features of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of several examples of preferred embodiments of the arrangement of this invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of the torch valve and ignition mechanism of a lighter according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a torch valve control in its open position;

FIG. 3 is a torch valve control of FIG. 2 in its closed position;

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention where the valve lifter is axially guided in a casing bore by means of a pin;

FIG. 5 shows another operative connection of the actuating member with the valve lifter;

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the position of the DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows in cross-section a lighter with an igni-- tion actuating member 1 which is movable on a path in opposite directions between active and inactive positions, a burner valve 4 including a nozzle 4a movable along an axis, a guided sleeve cooperating with a ballshaped cam follower element 3 slidably arranged in an opening 3a and projecting into the path of movement of the actuating member 1 to control a valve lifter 5. The valve lifter 5 is connected with the sleeve 2 which is guided in guide means 7 in the form of a pin extending substantially parallel to the axis of movement of the burner valve nozzle and is displaceable by means of a spring 8 in response to the movement of the actuating member 1.

FIG. 2 shows the actuating member 1 in its active swung-open position. Prior to the ignition of the lighter, the actuating member uncovers the opening 31;. By the force of the spring 8 the ball 3 on the valve control 2 is pressed upwards and through the valve lifter 5 which is in driving connection with the valve nozzle 4a, the torch valve 4 is opened and the gas emanating from the nozzle 40 is ignited in conventional manner.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the actuating member of FIG. 2 in its inactive or closed position where the edge of the actuating member acting as a cam has displaced the ball 3 and thereby the valve lifter 5 downwards along the axis of the parallel guide means 7 of the valve lifter.

FIG. 4 illustrates another modification of this invention where the valve lifter 5 is axially guided by means of a movable pin 6 which is slidably arranged in a bore 7 or in a stationary sleeve in the casing of the lighter.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a modification of the spherical cam follower 3 which is integral with the sleeve 2 or with the pin 6.

FIG. 6 shows a further example of an embodiment according to the present invention where the spring 8 is coupled between the valve lifter 5 and the torch valve In FIG. 7 there is illustrated a lighter with a swing-out actuating member 1 arrested in its open position by the ball 3. If, after the ignition of the lighter, the actuating member, urged by the spring tension to jump back, is allowed to abut gently against the ball 3, it becomes arrested thereby and the lighter can be kept burning. The valve lifter is then in its operative position.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a gas lighter having a casing, a manually operated ignition actuator movable in opposite directions between active and inactive positions,

in combination,

a gas burner valve including a nozzle movable, along an axis extending at an angle to said directions, between gas opening and closing positions, respectively,

a movable valve lifter in driving connection with said nozzle for lifting it,

guide means supported in said casing and including an element movable substantially parallel to said axis, said element being connected to said valve lifterand operable to guide the valve lifter during its movement substantially along said axis,

cam and follower members, one of said members being formed on said actuator and movable therewith in a path in said opposite directions, and the other member in driving and driven connection with said element,

resilient means biasing said element and therewith said other member towards the path of said one member, whereby when said actuator is moved towards the active position said other member will be released from engagement with said one member, and said resilient means will move said element towards said path and thereby will cause the valve lifter to lift the nozzle to open the gas flame.

2. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein said other member is a ball-shaped element arranged between said actuating member and said valve lifter.

3. A lighter according to claim 2 wherein said ballshaped element is slidably supported in a hole in said casing for movement along the axis of said guide means of said valve lifter.

4. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a sleeve connected to said valve lifter, and a stationary pin operable for axially guiding said sleeve.

5. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a pin connected to said valve lifter, and a guiding bore defined in the casing of said lighter, said pin being axially guided in said bore.

6. A lighter according to claim 4 wherein said other member is operatively coupled-with said sleeve.

7. A lighter according to claim 4 wherein said resilent means is coupled between said valve lifter and said casing.

8. A lighter according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means is arranged between said valve lifter and said burner valve.

9. A lighter according to claim 1 having said actuating member arranged for swinging out about an axis parallel to said nozzle axis.. 

1. In a gas lighter having a casing, a manually operated ignition actuator movable in opposite directions between active and inactive positions, in combination, a gas burner valve including a nozzle movable, along an axis extending at an angle to said directions, between gas opening and closing positions, respectively, a movable valve lifter in driving connection with said nozzle for lifting it, guide means supported in said casing and including an element movable substantially parallel to said axis, said element being connected to said valve lifter and operable to guide the valve lifter during its movement substantially along said axis, cam and follower members, one of said members being formed on said actuator and movable therewith in a path in said opposite directions, and the other member in driving and driven connection with said element, resilient means biasing said element and therewith said other member towards the path of said one member, whereby when said actuator is moved towards the active position said other member will be released from engagement with said one member, and said resilient means will move said element towards said path and thereby will cause the valve lifter to lift the nozzle to open the gas flame.
 2. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein said other member is a ball-shaped element arranged between said actuating member and said valve lifter.
 3. A lighter according to claim 2 wherein said ball-shaped element is slidably supported in a hole in said casing for movement along the axis of said guide means of said valve lifter.
 4. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a sleeve connected to said valve lifter, and a stationary pin operable for axially guiding said sleeve.
 5. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a pin connected to said valve lifter, and a guiding bore defined in the casing of said lighter, said pin being axially guided in said bore.
 6. A lighter according to claim 4 wherein said other member is operatively coupled with said sleeve.
 7. A lighter according to claim 4 wherein said resilent means is coupled between said valve lifter and said casing.
 8. A lighter according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means is arranged between said valve lifter and said burner valve.
 9. A lighter according to claim 1 having said actuating member arranged for swinging out about an axis parallel to said nozzle axis. 